World Cup: Portugal 0-0 Ivory Coast

Dull and lifeless as World Cup viewers are shrouded in the tournament's 6th draw in the opening round.

Once again I've been wrong regarding a game in the World Cup. Shock and horror.

On paper you'd look at the two teams involved. Ivory Coast and Portugal and then you'd look to their star players. Firstly to Portugal boasting such players as Ronaldo, Deco, and Carvahlo.

And Ivory Coast with players such as YaYa Toure, Kolo Toure and Didier Drogba.

And having looked at these two teams you'd then think "goal fest" but this wasn't the case at all.

Apart from a stunning strike from Ronaldo in the first half which was denied by the post there wasn't a whole lot to talk about really.

The same could be said about the second half too even though the Ivory Coast were well on top but didn't create any clear cut chances.

It was only when Didier Drogba was brought on when the crowd burst into life as Chelsea's prolific striker was brought into the field of play despite wearing a protective cast on his arm having received a broken arm in a friendly against Japan prior to the World Cup.

"Star players" were nowhere to be seen and sloppy passing from both sides made for frustrating viewing.

Another boring game and we can only hope that Brazil can add some flare when they play North Korea this evening.

World Cup: New Zealand 1-1 Slovakia

New Zealand gain their first ever World Cup point as they grab an injury time equaliser against Slovakia.

I reckon I shouldn't be allowed to call anymore games prior to any games in the World Cup. Already I thought that Australia would do well against Germany and I wrote off New Zealand completely today.

Yet another World Cup game that had very little to talk about bar the goals.

New Zealand threatened the Slovakian goal very early on but then just sat back as Slovakia came back into the game and dominated possession in the first half without really creating any goal scoring opportunities.

Slovakia opened the scoring five minutes into the second half when Slovakia finally found a good delivery from Sestak on the right, the Bochum winger whipping a cross in from deep for Vittek to plant a perfect header into the bottom corner.

Slovakia just seemed to sit back after that and New Zealand continued to press and got a well deserved equaliser thanks to their never say die attitude when Tony Lockhead crossed setting up an unlikely equaliser, delivering a perfect ball from the left for Reid to head past Mucha.

The point will feel like a victory for the Kiwi's as they secure their first ever World Cup point.

This result leaves everyone on the group on even in terms of goals, points and goals conceeded.

I am tempted to say that neither Slovakia and New Zealand will threaten Italy and Paraguay but I've been wrong already during this campaign so I'll hold my tongue.

World Cup: Italy 1-1 Paraguay

World champions Italy had to fight back from a goal down to earn a point against Paraguay as they began the defence of their crown with an unconvincing draw.

Marcello Lippi's side looked like they would be on the wrong end of the first major shock of the 2010 World Cup when they fell behind to Antolin Alcaraz's first-half header but an error from the South American side's goalkeeper Justo Villar gifted Daniele de Rossi an equaliser.

The ageing Azzurri, who featured five of their 2006 winning team in their starting line-up, looked short of ideas going forward and also have a concern over the fitness of legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was forced off at half-time with an apparent back injury.

Italy did avoid their first defeat in their opening game of a World Cup since losing to the Republic of Ireland in New York in 1994 but this was not a performance to reassure their army of travelling fans that they are in any sort of shape to defend their title.

In the absence of the injured Andrea Pirlo, who is expected to return later in the group stage, it fell on Simone Pepe to try to open up the Paraguayan defence, but it was only in the closing stages of the game that he and his side managed any sustained spells of pressure.

Lippi's men dominated possession but their opponents' disciplined and regimented approach, in some ways reminiscent of many cautious Azzurri sides in the past, held firm.

Italy's best opening of the first half hour actually came on the break when Riccardo Montolivo dispossessed Salvatore Bocchetti on the half-way line but, after running to the edge of the area, his low shot barely tested Villar.

At the other end, Paraguay were growing in confidence and they had already wasted a couple of decent shooting chances when they stunned the world champions by taking the lead after 39 minutes.

Aureliano Torres curled in a wicked free-kick and Alcaraz leapt to beat Fabio Cannavaro and De Rossi and power home his header into the corner of the net.

Things got even worse for Italy at half-time when goalkeeper Buffon, another survivor of 2006 and still the anchor of their side, had to be replaced by Federico Marchetti.

Paraguay continued to look comfortable after the break and Enrique Vera came close to adding a second when he drove a fierce shot over the bar when the ball broke to him in the area.

But Italy were gifted an equaliser by the sort of goalkeeping howler that we have become used to in the opening days of this World Cup.

Villar flapped horribly at Pepe's corner and missed his attempted punch, allowing the onrushing De Rossi to force the ball the home from close range.

Italy looked a lot sharper after equalising and ended the stronger side but they were still finding things frustrating in the final third and had to settle for shots from distance.

Pepe fired wide after cutting in from the right and Montolivo had a low effort turned round the post before the end but the Paraguayans held on for the draw that their performance merited.

World Cup: Japan 1-0 Cameroon

Japan edged out Cameroon in a dour encounter at Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium which produced little in the way of goalmouth action.

A far from capacity crowd witnessed two out-of-form teams struggle to find any inspiration in another tepid World Cup encounter.

After a dire opening half-hour the Japan took the lead against the run of play when Dalsuke Matsui's cross looped over Stephane Mbia and was met by Keisuke Honda, who fired in coolly at the back post.

Japan almost doubled the lead when Makoto Hasebe crashed an effort towards goal but it was well saved by Souleymanou Hamidou before the offside Shinji Okazaki clattered the post as he followed up.

Cameroon finally found some urgency in the closing stages as Mbia rattled the crossbar from 25 yards but the well-drilled Japan side were able to hold on and go level with the Netherlands at the top of Group E.

The Blue Samurai, who had lost four straight games in their World Cup build-up before drawing 0-0 with Zimbabwe, set out so defensively it seemed they would be happy with a point from the opening whistle.

And although Cameroon showed more endeavour, the fact that star striker Samuel Eto'o was played wide on the right and was often found lurking very deep, they lacked any sort of cutting edge.

A 37th-minute shot from Eyong Enoh was the first goalmouth action of the game and, although it was comfortably collected by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, it did finally suggest Cameroon may start to find gaps in the Japanese defence.

But the opposite was true as, despite their lack of attacking intent, Japan took a surprise lead one minute later.

Matsui's deep left-footed cross was completely missed by the Cameroon defenders and Honda had time to control the ball before passing into the net.

The Indomitable Lions are the most successful African side in World Cup history having qualified for the World Cup six times, but the pride and passion shown by previous incarnations was sadly lacking in this first tournament on their own continent.

Immediately after half time however, it suddenly seemed Cameroon had roused themselves from their slumber.

Three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto'o finally showed a glimpse of his ability when he picked the ball up on the right and beat two men on his way into the area before squaring to Maxim Choupo-Moting but the striker could not control his finish and blasted over the bar.

But that impetus was not to last and it was not until the 85th minute that Cameroon found two efforts which could have stolen them a point.

In a moment of inspiration totally out keeping with the rest of the game, Mbia hammered a stunning effort towards goal from 25 yards which crashed off the crossbar and following that Kawashima saved from Pierre Webo in injury time.

In fairness to Japan the Asian side's tactics worked almost perfectly as they defended solidly but on this evidence the Netherlands and Denmark will have little to worry about going into the tournament's second week.

World Cup: Netherlands 2-0 Denmark

Again, I didn't actually watch any matches today so I'll post up the BBC analysis of the three games today.

A freak own goal from Denmark defender Daniel Agger helped Netherlands on their way to victory in the World Cup Group E contest at Soccer City.

After a tight first half, the crucial breakthrough came moments after the break as Simon Poulsen tried to head a Robin van Persie cross clear only for the ball to strike Agger on the back and fly past a wrong-footed Thomas Sorensen.

At the time the goal was harsh on Denmark after Morten Olsen's side matched the Dutch in the opening period, but they offered little having fallen behind and can have few complaints about the result.

The Dutch wrapped it up with five minutes left when lively substitute Eljero Elia raced on to a through ball and after his shot struck the post, Dirk Kuyt tapped in the rebound to add gloss to the scoreline.

But in truth, the ninth game of the tournament followed many of its predecessors as both teams struggled for any sort of fluency and neither could find any real attacking momentum in the Johannesburg sunshine.

With World Cup greats Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane watching on from the stands, it provided another sharp reminder that, Germany apart, so far this tournament has significantly failed to provide the entertaining, creative football many had expected.

Netherlands were many people's dark horses coming into the competition, but, missing the wing play of the injured Arjen Robben, they struggled to find a way through a dogged Danish defence.

Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Van Persie all threatened to deliver in the early stages, but the Dutch build-up was too laboured and with Denmark getting men behind the ball they managed to frustrate Bert van Marwijk's side.

After Van der Vaart had a shot deflected behind and then curled narrowly off target it seemed as though Netherlands had found their feet, but that only prompted the best spell Denmark had in the game.

The Scandinavians burst into life as Nicklas Bendtner headed a gilt-edged chance wide from six yards, Dennis Rommedahl shot straight at Martin Stekelenburg and then Thomas Kahlenberg forced a fine save from the Ajax stopper.

Unfortunately for Denmark, that was as good as it got as, seconds after the restart, Poulsen and Agger's calamitous moment gave the Dutch an initiative they never looked likely to surrender.

Denmark had no answer to falling behind and the Netherlands began to press for a second they knew would put the result beyond doubt as Van der Vaart brought a sprawling save from an increasingly extended Sorensen.

When the Dutch brought on Elia his pace and directness presented another problem the Danes could not deal with and after Sneijder's shot was deflected on to the bar, the goal that killed the game arrived soon after.

Elia's pace took him clear of the static Danish backline and after his shot stuck the post, Kuyt was only hand to wrap up the three points for the jubilant Dutch.

The nearly had another in the closing stages, only for Poulsen to produce a fabulous clearance with an overhead kick, but the damage had already been done and the Netherlands' World Cup campaign got off to a winning start.

World Cup: Germany 4-0 Australia

Stunning Germany cruise past clueless Australia.


Personally, I had this down as a much tighter affair than this. Having not really seen the new and improved German side, I had this one down as a draw and boy was I wrong.

The Socceroo's started brightly with two glorious chances early on in the game which were both missed.

It was then that the young and lively German squad came into the game with delicous passing, fantastic movement and great skill. In all honesty, it was just like watching Barcelona.

It was Lucas Podolski who opened the scoring on 8 minutes with a thunderous strike which flew into the top right hand corner. On closer inspection it actually took a touch off Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to send it to the right hand corner but too much pace on the ball meant that there was no stopping the shot.

Germany weren't keen on resting on their laurels and continued to pour forward in attack and ripped through the Australian defence and were awarded with a second goal when Klose converted after Mueller's effort was parried out to the feet of Klose.

Half time couldn't come soon enough for Australia and they started off brightly in the second half creating a few chances but it was Germany who came on top every single time.

And when your luck is down, it's also out as Tim Cahill was sent off for a straight, yet very harsh red card which resulted in the Australian's going down to 10 men.

It was always going to be Germany's day and they got their third with Mueller tucking in off the post from the edge of the area to score.

Germany's fourth came 2 mins later when substitue Cacau turned in Ozil's centered cross just 2 minutes after coming on.

When you're good, you're good and Germany have looked the most impressive team thus far in this World Cup.

World Cup: Serbia 0-1 Ghana

I'll be honest with you. I've not really been watching the World Cup matches as of late but I'll paste the BBC analysis of the game.

An 85th-minute penalty from Asamoah Gyan ensured Ghana began their Group D campaign with victory against 10-man Serbia.

The striker converted emphatically from the spot when Serbia substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic was penalised for handball attempting to clear a dangerous cross.

Raddy Antic's side had struggled to contain Ghana's dominance in midfield and their task was made even more perilous when defender Aleksandar Lukovic was red carded for his second bookable offence in the 74th minute.

The four-time African champions had dominated large stretches of the game, creating sufficient opportunities to win by a greater margin than the scoreline suggested.

Serbia boss Raddy Antic named his strongest starting XI following Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic's return from illness.

Meanwhile, Ghana manager Milovan Rajevac, a Serb, omitted European Cup-winning midfielder Sulley Muntari in midfield, while Kevin-Prince Boateng, who represented Germany under-21s, lined up for only his second appearance in a Black Stars shirt.

Despite the lack of clear-cut first-half chances, the first 45 minutes were played at a rapid tempo as both sides displayed slick passing moves, albeit without the crucial addition of a quality final ball.

Ghana created the first genuine opportunity of the match when a stinging goalbound left-foot strike by Kwadwo Asamoah was deflected wide by the sprawling right leg of striker Nikola Zigic, while John Mensah and Asamoah Gyan failed to capitalise on half-chances shortly after.

Serbia's best opportunity came from a set-piece when Aleksandar Kolarov's superbly struck 30-yard left-footed free-kick curled past the left-hand post.

Ghana once again dictated the tempo at the start of the second half, with Andre Ayew miscuing a header wide with his marker Vidic well beaten.

Gyan went even closer soon after when he leapt elegantly to meet John Pantsil's long throw into the 18-yard box, only for his powerful six-yard header to skim the outside of Vladmir Stokjovic's left-hand post.

Although Serbia were not without their chances - a Marko Pantelic cross was well blocked by Isaac Vorsah with Zigic lurking - Antic's side showed little attacking threat in the final third.

And Serbia were forced to endure a nervous final 15 minutes when Lukovic was sent off for a second bookable offence when he held back Gyan on the half-way line.

However, Richard Kingson produced a fine stop to deny Milos Krasic when the CSKA Moscow midfielder fired a stinging 12-yard strike straight at the keeper following an enterprising left-wing run from Pantelic.

But Ghana eventually made their dominance count when Kuzmanovic inexplicably left his arm lingering when attempting to head clear a dangerous cross, allowing Gyan the opportunity to step up and wrong-foot goalkeeper Stokjovic with a powerful penalty.

The Rennes striker almost added a second in injury time when his curling shot struck the post with Stokjovic beaten.